Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office - Police Services

Comprehensive, efficient and effective police services are essential to a community’s quality of life including its economic development, human services, public works and other public policy initiatives. Based upon a foundation of community engagement, input, and data analysis, the Sheriff’s Office aim is to provide a “total” police services approach focused on meeting the diverse needs of our many Washtenaw County communities. This is fundamental to the Sheriff’s Office mission of creating public safety, providing quality service and building strong and sustainable communities.

About Us

Service Philosophy – Problem Oriented Policing (POP): Our philosophy in addressing crime and crime related issues is problem oriented policing (POP). Crime is not just a police problem; it’s a community problem. Accordingly, POP provides Deputies and the communities we serve with a way of thinking about and assessing crime problems in partnership, by bringing all of the community’s stakeholders and resources together to address specific crime and its related causes. It places a high value on responses that address root causes, are preventive in nature, are not necessarily dependent upon the use of the criminal justice system alone, and that engage other public and human service agencies, the community and private sector when their involvement has the potential to contributing to the reduction or elimination of the problem.

Service Foundation – Highly Trained Staff: A 24 hour county-wide operation, the foundation of our police service delivery is highly-trained, experienced Deputy Sheriff’s, working in and serving our communities every day. Responding to approximately 53, 289 service calls each year, Deputies address and investigate crime and crime related problems, conduct traffic crash investigations, arrest persons who commit or a charged with crimes, prevent crime, render assistance to motorists, attend the sick and injured, protect life, property and generally preserve and promote public peace. Led by a Division Commander, Police Services is staffed by 91 Deputy Sheriff’s, 8 Detectives, 14 Sergeants, 4 Lieutenants.

Service Collaboration - Reducing Costs & Meeting Local Needs: A great strength of the Sheriff’s Office is its ability to provide cost-effective, community-centric, comprehensive police services at a significantly reduced cost. As a result, in addition to general police services, the Sheriff’s Office acts as the Ann Arbor Township, Dexter Township, Dexter Village, Lodi Township, Salem Township, Scio Township, Superior Township, Webster Township, Manchester Village, York Township, and Ypsilanti Township police agencies via contract. With Sheriff’s Office support, a number of these jurisdictions have combined together to form policing collaborations that further reduce their costs while enhancing police coverage. By working in collaboration, these communities save tax payer dollars while providing a high-level of service to their residents.

Service Integration: Sheriff’s Office Police Services is characterized by a long history of collaboration with local units of government and other State and local public safety and emergency service organizations through the County to deliver cost-effective, quality service to residents, business owners and visitors to Washtenaw County. Collaborations reduce costly service duplication by combining resources to enhance operations and service quality. For example, the Washtenaw Metro-SWAT team is made up of representatives from the Ann Arbor Police Department, Ypsilanti Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, as is the Metro-Crisis Negotiations Team. Unique resources include computer and technology analytical capability and a mobile command unit that can respond anywhere in the County and independently conduct operations in special and emergency circumstances.

Special Services: Special capabilities, some of which are outlined below, include but are not limited to special threat response (SWAT & Crisis Intervention), criminal, traffic crash, auto-theft, dangerous drugs and criminal investigation expertise, underwater search and recovery response, detection and patrol police service dogs, mounted (horse) unit capability, and more.

Special Services

Detective Bureau

The Detective Bureau (DB) is staffed by investigators specially trained in the gathering and assessing crime-related information, interviewing crime suspects and witnesses to crimes, and the physical investigation and processing of crime scenes for the purpose of identifying, collecting and preserving various forms of evidence.

In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Michigan State Police, detectives are assigned to dangerous drug and auto-theft investigations with the Livingston & Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team (LAWNET) and the Washtenaw Area Auto Theft Team (WAATT). Detectives also partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against Children Task Force to assure rapid and comprehensive response to such crimes. Information for the Detective Bureau is below:

Washtenaw County Metro SWAT & Crisis Negotiation Teams

Members of the Sheriff’s Office participate in a collaborative regional tactical and crisis negotiation team with other police agencies in Washtenaw County. Selected Deputy Sheriff’s have advanced training in special weapons and tactics (SWAT) and crisis negotiations (Crisis Negotiation Team). Utilization of the Washtenaw Metro SWAT and Washtenaw Crisis Negotiation Team may include anti-sniper tactics, anti-terrorist tactics, barricaded subjects, and apprehension of armed and/or dangerous persons, executions of search warrants in hazardous situations, crisis situations and hostage rescue operations, dignitary protection, and other situations which may require special training and expertise. The Washtenaw Metro SWAT Team is led Lt Jim Anuszkiewicz of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office. Assistant Commanders are Sgt Tom Eberts of the Ypsilanti Police Department and Sgt. Travis Strang of the Ann Arbor Police Department. The Crisis Negotiation team is commanded by Sgt. Pat Hughes of the Ann Arbor Police Department. The Assistant team commander is Detective Laura Burke of the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Police Service Dog Teams

In a time where police activity is directed from a communications center miles away from where a Deputy Sheriff is engaging in investigative and enforcement activity, where considerable funding is spent on sophisticated service and investigative technology, a constantly sought after asset by the law enforcement patrol force remains the police service dog. Police Service Dogs (PSD) use their superior sense of odor discrimination, hearing, and ability to see movement, especially in the dark, to track crime suspects, search buildings or areas for hidden suspects, evidence, drugs, or other contraband, and search for lost or missing persons. They also apprehend criminals, protect their police partners and citizens, and share their human partner’s role of preserving the peace and preventing crime. The Sheriff's Office staffs three (3) specially trained PSD teams, Corporal Gerrod Visel and K9 Karn, Deputy Rick Houk and K9 Argo, and Deputy Sean Urban and K9 Fred. Their presence honors a 50 year tradition of using police service dogs at the Sheriff’s Office. All Sheriff’s Office police service dogs are certified by the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). The USPCA is the largest and oldest police service dog certification organization in North America.

Police Service Dog Teams from the Ann Arbor Police Department, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, Ypsilanti Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office work and train collaboratively to support each other in meeting the often high demand for these specially trained teams.

Marine Safety Section

Pursuant to Michigan Public Act 303, the Marine Safety Act of 1967, the County Sheriff has jurisdiction on all water-ways in the county. Accordingly, the Marine Safety Section provides boating safety education (click to view the class schedule), inspects and licenses boat liveries, inspects watercraft, and enforces safe boating laws insuring the safe operation of watercraft on County waterways. The Marine Safety Section also serves in a key support role to the Underwater Search & Recovery Team (USRT). The Section is supervised by Cpl. Thomas Mercure and staffed by part-time, seasonal Marine Safety Officers (MSO) from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Under Water Search and Recovery Team (USRT)

Comprised of highly trained certified SCUBA divers from multiple divisions’ within the Sheriff’s Office, the Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USRT) is responsible for all water recovery operations within the County, including but not limited to the recovery of drowned persons. The USRT also plays a crucial role in the recovery of criminal evidence and/or property within County waterways, and is active in community water safety events. County, State, and Federal funding, has assured that the team is outfitted and trained with the latest equipment and technology. Operating and training throughout the entire year, the Team is lead by Sgt. Paul Cook.

Mounted Unit

Police service horses, specially trained to serve in a variety of operational settings, provide a unique form of alternative patrol and response capability, often unmatched in its effectiveness. They engage in search and rescue operations, large event and crowd control management, general patrol, special operations, dignitary protection and are often present at community events, festivals and parades. Mounted Unit Deputies operate on horses they own which are specially trained in equine policing techniques and procedures. All horses have met the health and training requirements outlined by the Sheriff’s Office. Corporal Paul Mobbs and Corporal Cindy Flint operate as senior unit members joined and supported by Sgt. Beth Gieske.

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Unit (RDSU)

The Reserve Deputy Sheriff Unit (RDSU) consists of approximately 20 highly trained volunteers who episodically supplement agency personnel resources in all divisions, as appropriate to their role, authority and agency need. Unit members represent the epitome of public service. Each member has attended a special reserve police officer academy and, working under the authority of a certified Deputy Sheriff, operates in support of their partner in full uniform. Minimally, Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s volunteer eight (8) hours per month, work two (2) special events per year and attend regular scheduled unit meetings. The unit is often utilized in emergency circumstances as well as during normal operational activities when additional personnel are necessary to augment the agency’s response to a unique or special event.

Minimum requirements are 21 years of age, have applied for a CCW at the time of their interview, and have a clear criminal history and a good driving record. If you have questions regarding the Reserve Unit or would like further information, please contact Reserve Unit Coordinator Joe LaFerier or call (734) 545-2770 Sgt. Keith Flores or call (734) 973-4694.